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Program Specialist - Patient Care Services

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is organizationally aligned under the Associate Director of Patient Care Services (AD PCS) and reports to the Supervisory Administrative Specialist (SAS) in the Associate Director Patient Care Services Business Office. This position performs duties to support the clinical and administrative operations for the entire Patient Care Services (PCS) Service-Line including the AD PCS, PCS Leadership, PCS Management team and all employees of the Service-line.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/03/2022 to 10/24/2022
Salary
$48,880 to - $77,728 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
Philadelphia, PA
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSZ-11664102-22-KK
Control number
681029700

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Duties

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The Program Specialist will play a critical role in supporting, coordinating and implementing various VHA, Medical Center and Service-line initiatives with varied focus. Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Conducts fact-finding and analysis of data (examples, financial, etc.) and research of problems assigned to the incumbent for review.
  • Identifies areas of concern independently, as a result of thorough analyses, and prepares and implements plans for resolution.
  • Provides advice and guidance on factual nature regarding well-precedent issues and interprets established policies/regulations, and administrative rules.
  • Programmatically responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Business Office, providing direction and oversight to the parties involved with its functionality.
  • Collects, analyzes data and information to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, the current status of operations, and then forecast the future of the section.
  • provide technical support and assistance to the Chief(s), Associate Chief(s), SAS and other leadership within Service-line and other staff through the gathering and compiling of materials from accreditation and other sources for the purposes of developing policy statements and completing special assignments and projects.
  • Performs a critical role in the procurement process and oversight of Service-line resources including, but not limited to, goods and services, equipment procurements for the assigned service(s).
  • Ensure that procurement packages are submitted in a timely manner and will verify that funding has been made available as part of the complete procurement package.
  • Reviews the accuracy and adequacy of current financial, costing, and managerial reports and is responsible for quality assurance of all statistical reports and related data as they apply to higher level management.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist - Patient Care Services/PD022222A and PD02222A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/24/2022.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

  • GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Manage day-to-day operations of the Business Office, providing direction and oversight to the parties involved with its functionality.
  • Maintains appropriate rapport with internal and external customers to facilitate the accomplishment of the agency goals and mission.
  • Takes action to effectively solve problems before they have an adverse impact on the organization or other employees.
  • Conducts fact-finding and analysis of data (examples, financial, etc.) and research of problems.
  • Coordinate work efforts of multiple work streams to provide continuity of activities.
  • Has knowledge of procurement processes..
  • OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed one (1) full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). NOTE: Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
  • OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required..
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
  • GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Reviews information, reconciles conflicting data, and analyzes findings to develop recommendations and proposals.
  • Understands the procurement process and oversight of contracts.
  • Establishes procedures to secure adequate control in terms of deadlines, progress reports and directives and uses own initiative in developing procedures which will increase the general flow of information, customer service, and overcome bottlenecks in the administrative process.
  • Compile and ensure quality completion of documentation for procurement packages.
  • Track and monitor assigned contracts.
  • Manages fund control point money.
  • OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or masters or equivalent graduate degree, or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation..
  • OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year (18 semester hours) of master's level education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required..

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Administration and Management
  • Customer Service
  • Manages Resources
  • Organizational Awareness


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but also demands periods of standing, walking, bending, lifting, and carrying of charts, clinical folders or forms, and moving or carrying miscellaneous supplies and equipment to various locations within the medical center. The incumbent frequently walks to various parts of the medical center and Community Living Center including patient care areas, treatment areas, warehouse and storage areas.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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